Pratap Chandra Sarangi, the newly elected MP from Odisha, Balasore is not someone who lives in a bungalow but is one who lives in a hut. To travel on the road, he doesn’t need any expensive SUVs but is completely satisfied with the only bicycle he has.
The 64-year-old politician still rides a bicycle and now he is a part of Modi 2.0 cabinet. A bachelor, Sarangi took oath on May 30 as the Minister of State in the Modi government.
Sarangi, popularly called as ‘Nana’, was the president of Odisha Bajrang Dal. He extended his contribution for the state vice president of the BJP from October 2014 to January 2015. Sarangi also worked as th joint secretary of Vishwa Hindu Parishad in Odisha.
In the 2019 general elections, Sarangi got the better of two of the richest candidates of Odisha namely Biju Janata Dal (BJD) MP and industralists Rabindra Jena and Nabajyoto Patnaik, son of Odisha Congress committee president Niranjan patnaik from Balasore Parliamentary constituency.
Sarangi convingly won against Jena by a huge margin of 12,000 votes in 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Needless to say, unlike his fellow contestants, who campaigned in luxury SUVs, Sarangi himself moved around in a hired autorickshaw.
In addition, Sarangi’s written statement disclosed that Sarangi does not own any vehicle, jewelry, no liabilities.
Also, he has not paid any income tax in the last 5 years. His declared assets (acquired and inherited) are estimated at Rs 5.5 lakh.
Sarangi likes to be called a social worker. His potential source of income includes pension and agriculture. Sarangi has set up many Ekal Vidyalayas (village school, with single school teacher) till Class 3 or 5 in Odisha.
Sarangi was nominated as MLA two tines from Nilgiri in 2004 and 2009.
Absolutely incredible to see Sarangi ji from Balasore find place in #narendramodi ‘s council of ministers. Truly inspiring to see a selfless, simple, committed Swamsevak make it as part of government…Who says one needs money to win elections